In a recent interview, legislative leaders didn’t appear warm to repealing the subsidy:

As the session continues, the possibility increases of the city vs. rural legislative feuds reigniting. Within the last week some rural lawmakers filed legislative to divert transit funds to school transportation budgets.

About the blogger

Bob Collins has been with Minnesota Public Radio since 1992, emigrating to Minnesota from Massachusetts. He was senior editor of news in the ’90s, ran MPR’s political unit, created the MPR News regional website, invented the popular Select A Candidate, started several blogs, and every day laments that his Minnesota Fantasy Legislature project never caught on.

NewsCut is a blog featuring observations about the news. It provides a forum for an online discussion and debate about events that might not typically make the front page. NewsCut posts are not news stories.

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Seems to me Pawlenty never “targets” any of his own projects for cuts. Apparently when it comes to making the tough choices and tightening his belt he doesn’t apply his standards evenly.

kennedy

A recently released study from the University of Minnesota indicates that corn based ethanol is more costly to produce than gasoline. Cellulosic ethanol, on the other hand, appears to have an advantage.

If the state government operates efficiently (a big if) and directs the money to the most efficient source of ethanol, corn farmers would see little benefit. The state economy may actually see a future benefit if we can develop a more efficient means of ethanol production.

Gasoline prices will eventually get back on their upward trend. I support continued research into alternative fuel sources, but not farm subsidies.

Amy

I agree with Paul. Absolutely. Pawlenty is about leaving P-lenty for himself and none for the rest of us. The first thing he should have been looking at was subsidies such as these, which cost too much for what they produce (environmental damage). Instead Pawlenty gives corporations tax breaks and proposes wage freezes for what should now be the wealthiest of Minnesotans, state workers, while he flies off to Germany on those same funds. I say that as a $34k state employee who can afford one of these foreclosed, $80k houses with $100k of work who up until a couple weeks ago was on “state travel” restrictions, not allowed to travel to do a job which requires it! Go figure.